WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 50, 22 November 1907, Page 4

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. ■ ' ' The monthly meeting of the Ediicatioe Board was held yesterday afternoon, a week earlier than usual. There were present:— The Chairman (Mr. Bobt. Lee), Messrs. W.Allan, A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., A. H. Vile, J. Kebbell, W. H. Field, M.H.R., and Captaij T. W. M'Donald. FINANCES. The statement of finances showed a dobft balance on the Buildings Account of £435 7s. 7d., and a credit balance on the General Account current of £827 7s. 4d., leaving a credit balance 1 of £391 19s. 9d. The credit balance on the Technical Account, Manual and Technical Account, and Teachers' Salaries Account amounted to £GOB 10s. 9d.; Deposit Account.£2o 4s. W. '(in credit); Secondary Account, debit balance, £123 15s.' 4d.; leaving a credit balance on November 20, 1907, of. £896 19s. Bd. The contract liabilities (including sites) amounted;to £3236 9s. 4d. Tho following reports were received: —Inspectors' reports; report of tho Committee of Advice, Training College; report of the lu--structor in Agriculture; report of the Clerk of Works; and the Truant Officer's report. ; Applications for tho establishment of the following schools were granted:—Tablelands; Manahara, Waihi Junction; Pakaraka, Mastcrton (Household),* Mr. Donald.' A letter was received from the Education Department, iutimating that the grant-in respect of tho purchase'of the school site at Petone would be limited to £750. The Department's decision raised some dis cussion, Mr. Field remarking that the , Site in question would probably run into £3000, and they had gone into tho negotiations l/>r the purehaso on the distinct understand! ig that the Government-would pay half cost. It was decided that a reply be sent to the Department, enclosing a, copy of the valuation of tho land, and intimating that step? had already been, taken to acquire the site, the understanding being that the Government had promised to contribute half the money. . ' -

The Department also wrote asking fot ?n extension of the scholarship held by J. N. Robinson. This was granted.

Tho Lands Department reported _ that t section of five acres, part of Block 8, in Para paraumu, had been reserved as a public re* creation ground. The report was adopted. It was reported that "the. dispute regarding tho site of tho Pahiatua Technical School had been amicably settled on the' basis of the Board's previous docision. ' Tho Finance and Works Committee'recommended that tho following grants bo approved: —Mitchclltown, improvements, £5; Korokoro, repairs and improvements, £3; Dalelield, subsidy on committee's contribution of £6 for fencing, £6. Dalefield, that a range be provided for tho teacher's residence. Fernbridge, that when improvements are being effected, bathroom, etc., at the teacher's residence be erected.and connected with the system. Wauwiomata, that new school site be fenced; that Dover stovo be provided for residence. Kercru, that an extra tank bo provided for residence. Greytown — Blackboards — That the necessary hyloplato be provided at a cost of £7- from manual and technical funds and the, balance from tho Board's funds. Brooklyn, that the fencing of the new site be deferred until decision is arrived at as to what purpose the sito is to bo used for. Eastern Hutt, that tho purchase proceed, tho Board being protected as regards (a) right-of-way from Hutt Road, and (b) frontage to King's Road. Upper Hutt, that the Board's solicitors be authorised to proceed with the acquirement of selected site under the Public Works Act

SCHOOL CADETS. . ' ■ : The committed, 'consisting , bh ■Captaii M'Donaldand the Chief Inspector (Mr. T. R, Fleming), set up..-to co])sid<jr r .then-whole ques. tion of the control of the school cadets, reported as follows: —(1) That the control ot the Public-School Cadet, Corps-be placed under the Education; Boards in accordance with sub-section (2) of'. section .17 of the Defenco, Act Amendments Act. 1900 ;• that the Government be asked,to subsidise the.B.parda to an amount equal to the present expendituro on cadet corps, and that the Education Department be asked to appoint an inspecting officer. (2) That other Boards be requested to co-operate in making joint representations to the Minister to have these resolutions given effect to. ' (3) That th& Public School Cadet Regulations bo revised to meet the change proposed above. Captain MTDonald said that, in the orga nidation and development of the cadet move mont, New Zealand had led the world, th( Wellington Education Board had led New Zealand, and ho (tho speaker) had led the Wellington Education Board. (Laughter.) In no other department of school work waa the management taken out of their hands, and he. failed to see why the complete control of'their cadets should not be vested in the Board. He moved that the report be adopted. Mr. Allan, in; ■ seconding the motion, said that he had found it a,difficult matter to estimate the Board's position with regard to the cadets. Past experience bad convinced him of the absurdity of divided control, and he was strongly of-, opinion that something should be done. They wore, accordding to the Act, compelled to do the work, and should therefore have full control of it. Tho Education Department's memorandum referring to cadet camps was then discussed. Captain M Donald considered that special considerations should be shown to the country battalions when proceeding to camping grounds.' The units of these battalions were widely distributed, and were thereiore ontitled to larger concessions in respect to their expenses than wcro allowed for by the regulations which had been issued. Referring to the regulation covering charges to corps in respect to wear and tear of camp material, he thought that the Education Department should charge on the same basis as the Defence Department—namoly, 5 per cont. of the wear and tear only should be debited. "What's the idea of. those camps? said Mr. Hogg. "These boys got out on, the loose, and smoke cigarettes. Far better to take them to Wonderland and give them a good day's outing." . Mr. Allan indignantly repudiated the cliargos of loose conduct insinuated by Mr. Hogg. Ho had a high opinion of tho boys of the present generation, and considered that camp life afforded the grandest possible training for the boys. Ho hoped, however, that if camps were undertaken, care would be taken to havo them supervised by responsiblo persons. Mr Hogg moved that the proposal bo not ontertained. This was seconded by Mr. Vila "'cadet Corps at Island Bay.—The Board approved of the establishment of 8 cadet company at Island Bay School